You can put a fork in it. Nostradamus himself couldn’t have predicted merely 6 months ago the conundrum that general finds himself in. The commando was high on his command and as they say in cricket, played one too many shots. He is literally stuck in a corridor with no outlet. This however is an after thought. The more pressing question is what is he going to do now? Is he going to go down all guns blazing or throwing punches as he threatened the other day? This would be a catastrophe for Pakistan, or is it in him to bow out with however little grace he is left with? Or will our political jokers from all diverse background provide him and the Army once more an opportunity to rule by proxy?

The last option is the scariest one, at least for me! This is a historical juncture in Pakistani history in my estimation. The opportunity to revert back to a genuine civilian rule that has been provided to us by the legal fraternity can’t be and shouldn’t be squandered for petty personal interest, namely Swiss court cases or deportation deal arranged by Saudis. Lets for once make this about the 160 million of us, which have never been accorded a consideration; can it not be our turn this time around? And why are we asking for it, why not just take it if THEY insist on playing the same games that they have in the past? But it might not come to that. Call me a hopeless romantic but I have a hunch that ‘some’ political leadership has learnt a worthy lesson that next time around if they insist on being masters rather than servants than their fate will be far more horrible than the current masters. Jawed Hashmi is one of the few stand-up politicians amongst a wide variety of political midgets that we have on the horizon right now, and I hope that he is sincere when he advises his party to be humble and serve rather than rule. Awam would also be keenly observing how Jawed Hashmi and his party deal with the turn-coats. Would they take them back for political expediency or would they take a risk and instead give tickets to workers who might not be as rich & powerful but are loyal? I also understand that in urban politics you can afford to take that moral stand far more easily than the rural domain because of the intense jageerdari & biradari web. But wouldn’t we have to start at some point in the right direction? I mean I know that the destination is far far away and there will be roadblocks and detours along the way, but that shouldn’t stop us from starting the journey, should it?

If we kept allowing the same immoral, opportunist, turncoats to jump from one party to another just because they have an ancestral seat than I am sorry, but the ruthless game that is being played for the past 60 years at the expense of the people of Pakistan and their well-being, marches on. Forces that have made up their mind that they will rise against status-quo in favor of people of Pakistan should unite and in my opinion thru seat adjustments elect people that are not known absconders.

I could be horribly wrong but in my estimation Muslim league (N), Jamat-i-Islami and Tehreek-e-insaaf have at least given an impression that they are not willing to sleep with the devil (at least this time around) at any cost. Devil being the civil and army establishment. So they are natural allies and they must formulate a strategy that can make them a force in the coming elections. Supreme Court isn’t capable of winning elections for them; political parties must rise from petty interest and deliver for the well-being of masses for once. I am glad that Supreme Court delivered a common-sense verdict which happens to be in favor of Sharif Brothers. Its incumbent on them now to tell his esteemed friends - harriri’s and saudi’s – that for a change sharif’s would like to keep the promise that they have made on numerous occasions with the people of Pakistan, which is to serve them and build brand Pakistan instead of ittefaq. I know sharif’s are rich and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that but it might not be a bad idea to not flaunt as much as they usually do, with Bentleys and designer sofas and expensive suits. 43% of our unfortunate people still don’t have access to clean water, there is no viable healthcare system for poor, our middle class is on the verge of mass-suicides because of inflation and the absence of basic amenities like electricity, and its just in bad taste to parade with shinny smiley faces in air-conditioned five-star hotels. I am saying this sincerely; please don’t add insult to injury.

This truly could be a shinning milestone in Pakistani history because for the first time the superior courts have broken the shackles and for all intent and purpose the Supreme Court justices look competent and ready to deliver that ever elusive justice. I agree with Imran Khan, the issue at hand is not about fundamentalism or liberalism, it’s about justice and democracy. Once the people of Pakistan are sure that they have the power to elect who and what governs them, the minority on both extremes, ‘religious’ as well as ‘enlightened’ will be marginalized and they’ll whither away from our national canvas.

We as people must also decide once and for all that from now on, whenever our rulers and establishment get this craving for ‘jihad’ as they did in Afghanistan against Russia and in Kashmir than they must send in our Army first…..way before they start the recruitment of 14 old maddarasa boys. It’s Army’s job to fight wars, that’s what they get paid to do. Islam doesn’t ask peasants to go for jihad while the rulers and the Army are playing golf in pindi. Hundreds upon thousands of Pakistani laymen, poor villagers’, teenage boys from maddarsas lost their lives in the war in Afghanistan and Kashmir. I can say with utmost surety that none of those teenagers were sons of an army officer whose rank was higher than captain. And all this recruitment of poor to fight wars was done by our military agencies, either directly or by proxy. Gen. Hameed Gul is an orator par-excellence and he’ll have you believe that our afghan policy was to our benefit in the time of Zia. He might be right, although I can give him run for his money on that but the bigger question remains why didn’t he send his own flesh and blood for that noble cause? These are quandaries that you might be able to avoid and dodge here but on the Day of Judgment, the interviewer would be a little more persistent.

Kudos is in order (they seem to be on a roll) for our newly rejuvenated supreme court for once putting the intelligence agencies in their place. It is truly historic that poor, un-influential, innocent victims of state brutality now have a savior in shape of Supreme Court. It was a thing of beauty when the honorable justices told the director of FIA that he either produces the missing person in question or he would have to sit in jail till he is located. Needless to say Hafiz Basit who from all accounts disappeared in thin air earlier - was produced the next day.

The attempts to use martial-law as a scare-tactic is a little pathetic because everyone and their khaloo realize that Martial-Law is so 1980’s. People of Pakistan, Supreme Court, Western Powers maybe even the Army can see that Martial-Law is no longer an option. We can safely say that musharaf and chaudhries are about the only ones day dreaming about martial-law. I do agree in principle that even in a free fair electoral process the choice we have in Pakistan is really between worse and worst. It’s really a conundrum of any 3rd world developing democracy but it’s definitely a HUGE step up from martial law and that’s really the bottom line, let me end with some humor from Inayat Ali Khan:

Pohanch gayey hein election kay phir dorahay par

Tumhi bataoo mayray bhai kiss taraf jayein.

Udhar mian hein idhar mayi.. kiss taraf jayein,

Udhar kunWaan(well) hay idhar khayi (ditch)..kiss taraf jayein

Reader Comments:

Worthy of praise

Mr. Ahmer Muzammil you are genius of writing. Too good with the pen but you are not in Pakistan. You are away so long you don't know much though its enough what you have written. To find loyal and honest politicians in Pakistan and the system the way they run elections and chose their candidates is different than the west. Elections are family based and in majority cases the system fails badly at the moment may be given time it might improve though long way to go yet. Javed Hashmi snd Imran Khan are after getting power though they do not have too good records and not much to offer to Pakistan. Imran Khan is an ex-cricketer but well educated, remained in the west and hardly had a thought of poor peasants of Pakistan and their problems. He is half in London and half in Pakistan With the set up of his Hospital which is mostly run on charity, a top class hospital treating cancer patients is not providing treatments to poor people but patients with money. It was seen on TV once and that program exposed what he promised and what service poor get from his set up. Nawaz Sharif and BB got their empires built in west and Middle East and are hardly a threat to Gen. Musharraf. If they dare to go back they will be arrested together with all those who support them. Same sitution will happen what happened in Bangladesh yesterday. Two ex-PM behind the bars with their accomplices on corruption charges. If you compare the economy of Pakistan today, perhaps you being in management would agree that its better than what it was during Nawaz Sharif time. Foreign Reserves over $16Billion and GDP over 7% which is one of the best in Asia. Good signs of progress in a democracy that suits Pakistan. Civilian Dictators failed in the past and took the wealth whereas the people on top at the moment are doing better but still they can do more. Regarding election of President he is going to be re-elected as he got a larger support of the public and no way is going to be budged by empty slogans. Its better to have a government in Pakistan which is stable and continuity of polices can give more progress to Pakistan rather than changing just the heads. PM Mr. Aziz is a genius like you in his work and has shown the economic growth when so many foreign countries are gone into Pakistan to do huge investments. Surely they know what they are doing. Pakistan do have a great future but politics of that country will remain the same. Everyone wants to become President, whether a Uniform General or Civilian but it would be great to stick to what is there and let the country progress. In the end must say that your article and findings are great.

Mohammad, United Arab Emirates - 04 September, 2007

Excellent finding

i congratulate u on finding true picture regarding govt policy on jahid.why in time of war they put forward poor madarassa student instead of their regular army.

kaleem, Pakistan - 04 September, 2007

A down to earth summary of Pakistani politics.It is in the interests of a modern Pakistan that that Mullahs and the military are kept out of the Government.Mush has started doing to Pakistan what he should do to his ?

Abdulla Kutty, Hungary - 05 September, 2007

The writer although educated but seem physcologicaly to Romantic to believe that the two Theives i.e. Nawaz and Benazir will not steal from Pakistan. Their is a saying "If a man/woman decieves me once shame on him and if he decieves me twice shame on me ". Either the writer has personal relations to the two criminals or not able to see where Pakistan was before Musharraf and where it stands now.
God save Pakistan from its own people.

Adnan, Pakistan - 05 September, 2007

The 'conundrum' the general finds himself in ? What about the conundrum I am in right now. Who do I vote for man ? Do I vote for a party which is being led by Sharif or Bhutto, who I know have deceived the country of its resources more than once, do I vote for a party with beards which has no soul and no brains, do i vote for a party being led by a person who is my favorite Pakistani (Imran Khan), but who is sadly a one man party. Do I vote for a party whose being lead by a leader who expects me to vote for him so he can make my life better, but doesn't have the will to come here.

We have a huuuuge political base, not one pillar of which is capable of or worthy of leading my country.

Ah, the Supreme Court Team are my current heroes, we need them to sustain their work for some time so that all the filth and dirt can be washed off once and for all, so I can finally decide which Box to put my thumb on.

Ahmed Sajjad, Pakistan - 05 September, 2007

Two thieves

Well done Adnan of Pakistan. Your opinion does make a great sense. How on earth one can trust two thieves who had their terms twice and did as much damage as possible to Pakistan and stole all the wealth of a poor country. Writer did fail to balance his words and just favoured BB and Nawaz Sharif thinking that there is no alternative to two thieves. An alternative Gen. Musharraf who took over from Nawaz Sharif in 1999 has not stolen any money from the treasury and today there is a Foreign Exchange Reserve totalling over $16Billion and GDP over 7% being one of the best in Asia. Why writer failed to compare present government with past, possibly had no proof that BB and Nawaz Sharif stole huge sums from Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif has a Steel Mill in Saudi Arabia where almost total workforce is Indian. Why not Pakistanis.? BB has mansions in UK, France, US and in Middle East. Both were not rich prior to taking the post of PM. Its all the fault of Punjabis who voted them in twice and still they think they can do something better for him. Why to give chance to them when they are tested and proved fraudsters. We all would like to see Pakistan a very prosperous country and people inside and outside do wish that and pray to God. It is evident that 100m young population of Pakistan under the age of 18 years has got too much to give back to Pakistan. Thieves of the past got to be forgotten because of their deeds. It would be great to stick to present President and PM. They both are very loyal and give them hand to make Pakistan a vibrant and an economic Hub in Asia.

Mohammad, United Arab Emirates - 05 September, 2007

Governace- Who to Vote and Why?

To design Governance or a leader or a system? Imagine BB or Nawaz Sharif
As PM or Pervez Musharraf (with or without uniform) as Leader to provide
jobs housing employment education peace security Judiciary and Khazana
of Qaroon (cash) or equivalent cash (IMF or trade factories needed to get paid).
Cash is coming out of fossil fuel car related airplane jetfighter factories or related steel mill related auto parts Gas station parking ticket and security guard related. US allied
Soldiers are like failed Communism.They are none productive like Army security guard related welfare like all other none productive cash eater.Pakistan Military has army
Navy airforce ministries democracy and judiciary.What would BB or NS create
To get going.Is it enough in Pakistan currently to meet supply and demand is the
Issue of election.

Islam came to grow seed and produce fish water rain forest lumber .Industries came
To sell these and other goods to earn income. In 1947 Pakistan went agriculture
Route while India went steel Mill route. Thieves always steal cash. Communism Imperialism Zionism Hinduism Buddhism education factories .Pakistan follows same religion like Iran and Turkey Oil sheiks Malaysia .TV election debate of two parties
Revealed that My finance minister will do this My industries minister will do that
My professor will solve problem by not using asset but by earning money on the principle of Islamic seed profit from factories export from electronics creative goods
Product .Some has IMF cash created from fossil fuel related some from fossil fuel
Gas distribution car plane vacation package or other by steel or steal settlers related. For some Governance is Military for some office with a pen to sign IMF loan WTO factories to some kill The innocent – steel or steal. Think for Pakistan Election using a role model from above democracy judiciary or combination used by a successful Muslim state Or leaders (past or present in Pakistan or anywhere).

Z Billo, United Arab Emirates - 05 September, 2007

Advice gratis for President Musharraf

To hack the attending hostile circumstances becomingly the only right course for President Musharraf is; hire a President as Nawaz Sharif has done in his case - as such waive this presidential election at the expiry. Assume your duty as COAS - have the benefit of the uniform and power more securely till the tenure. Command is a must for commanding - this is the natural law. Neither will you have to beseech for uniform nor for security. And whenever you feels the need for extension as COAS you would need simply winking to the would be President therefor. And you may choose one among your own lot viz PML (Q) or choose any other most tamely person for the slot.

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